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Requirements

subject to substantial discrimination, amounting to a gross violation of your human rights, in your home country

proposed by a person or organisation in Australia.

Page Content

About this visa

The Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202) is for you if you are outside Australia, are living outside your home country, are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of your human rights in your home country, and are proposed by a person or organisation in Australia.

This is a permanent visa.

What this visa lets you do

This is a permanent residence visa. It allows you to:

stay in Australia indefinitely

work and study in Australia

enrol in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses

access certain social security payments

apply for Australian citizenship (after you have lived in Australia for four years)

propose family members for permanent residence

attend English language classes.

If you want to travel outside Australia, you will need to get a travel document. After five years, you will need a Resident Return Visa to re-enter Australia.

Before you apply

You must be outside Australia when you apply for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202). You must also be outside Australia when a visa is granted.

Cost

There is no visa application charge for this visa, unless you are applying under the Community pilot.

Other costs

The Australian Government does not fund travel costs for the holders of Global Special Humanitarian visas (subclass 202). If your application is approved, you or your proposer must pay for you to travel to Australia.

Financial assistance is available to you if your family members come to Australia on this visa. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) No-Interest Loan Scheme provides the following services:

lends up to 75 per cent of the travel costs to Australia to you or your immediate family members entering Australia on a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)

arranges the travel bookings

provides advice and support before, during and after your family’s journey to Australia.

Visa applicants

This information tells you how to apply for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202).

Who could get this visa

You might be able to get this visa if you:

are living outside your home country

are subject to substantial discrimination which amounts to a gross violation of your human rights in your home country

are proposed for this visa by a person or organisation in Australia.

Your proposer

Applications for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202) must be supported by an eligible proposer in Australia. The proposer must be:

an Australian citizen

an Australian permanent resident

an organisation in Australia.

If a member of your immediate family was granted a Protection or Humanitarian visa in the past five years, they can also propose you for this visa under ‘split family’ provisions. You can find more information at Proposing an Immediate Family Member ('Split Family').

Health requirements

You must meet certain health requirements. The results are usually valid for 12 months. Do not arrange a health examination until we ask you to.

This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your application.

A waiver of the need to meet the health requirement is available if compassionate and compelling circumstances exist. You can find information at Health waivers.

Character requirements

You must meet certain character requirements. You must be prepared to provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age. Do not arrange for police certificates until we ask you to.

This also applies to all dependent family members in the application who are 16 years of age or older.

Debts to the Australian Government

You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this visa can be granted.

Provide biometrics

Including family in your application

You can include the following people in your visa application:

your partner (married or de facto)

your or your partner’s dependent children

other dependent relatives.

These family members must meet the requirements for including family members in your application. They could be asked to provide evidence of their relationship to you. This could include marriage certificates, birth certificates, joint bank accounts and other relevant documents.​​

Your family members must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.

Non-dependent children who want to apply for entry to Australia on humanitarian grounds must apply for this visa separately.

How to apply

This information explains what you need to do to apply for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202). You and anyone included in your application must be outside Australia when you apply and the visa is granted.

If you want to apply under the Community Proposal Pilot, further information is available under the Community pilot tab.

Prepare your documents

You need to provide documents to prove the claims you make in the application. The documents are listed in the Document checklist.

Some documents could take some time to obtain. You should have them ready when you lodge the application to reduce any delays in processing.

More information

There is more information to help you prepare your application, such as certifying and translating documents into English, communicating with us, using a migration agent, authorising another person to receive information from us, and receiving assistance with your application.​​

After you have applied

After you apply for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202), the department will send you and your proposer an acknowledgement of receipt.

We could also ask you for more information. You will have to respond by a set date. After that date, we can make a decision about your application using the information that we have.

If another person gives us information that could result in you being refused a visa, we will usually give you the opportunity to comment on the information.

You might also be interviewed. If you are asked to attend an interview in person, bring your passport or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.

At the interview, you will be asked about:

your circumstances, including the reasons why you are seeking a refugee visa

your family composition

the information you have provided in your application

other matters relating to your application.

Report changes in your circumstances

You must tell us if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.

If you do not provide us with the details of any new passport issued to you, you could experience significant delays at the airport and may be denied permission to board your plane.

Withdrawing your application

You can withdraw the application at any time before we make a decision about it. To do this, send us a letter or email to ask for the withdrawal. Your request must include your full name and date of birth. You should also include the number we gave you when you applied, if you know it – this could be a file reference number, client ID, or a Transaction Reference Number.

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must sign the letter of withdrawal or send a separate email or letter.

Visa decision

If the visa is granted, we will let you know:

when you can use the visa

the visa grant number

any conditions attached to the visa.

If the visa is refused, we will send you a letter or email stating why it was refused.

Document checklist

You need to provide documents to support your application for this visa. We can make a decision using the information you provide when you lodge your application. It is in your interest to provide as much information as possible with your application.

Provide certified copies of original documents. Do not include original documents unless we specifically ask for them. Police certificates should be original documents. Documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.

Use this checklist to make sure your application is complete.

Visa application requirements differ from country to country. If you are applying outside Australia, your nearest immigration office outside Australia will tell you exactly how to lodge your application and what documents to provide.

Your humanitarian circumstances

Evidence of registration with any international organisation dealing with refugees, for example, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

A detailed written statement (in English), clearly explaining why you left the country you fear returning to

OR

If you have been referred for resettlement by the UNHCR, a full copy of your UNHCR Resettlement Registration Form.

Visas or residence permits

Certified copies of any visas or residence permits held by any person included in this application (if available).

Your identity

Certified copies of the biographical pages of the current passports or travel documents of all people included in the application (these are the pages with the holder's photo and personal details and the issue/expiry dates).

OR

a statement explaining why you have no travel or identity documents.

Eight recent passport-sized photographs (45 mm x 35 mm) of each person included in the application.

These photographs should be of the head and shoulders only against a plain background.

Print the name of the person on the back of each photograph.

If your name has changed or the name of anyone included in your application has changed: a certified copy of evidence of the name change.

Your relationships

Certified copies of marriage certificates or relationship registrations for you and anyone else included in your application, even if they are not joining you in Australia.

If you are living in a de facto relationship: independent evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing (for example, joint bank account statements, billing accounts in joint names or joint ownership of major assets).

If you or anyone included in the application has been widowed, divorced or permanently separated: a certified copy of the death certificate, divorce documents, or statutory declaration separation documents.

Evidence of financial dependency for all your family members aged 18 or older:

a certified copy of their birth certificate and proof of their relationship to you

proof that they live in your household

proof that they have been financially dependent on you for at least the 12 months immediately before you lodge your application.

Your children

Certified copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents of all your dependent children.

If any dependent child included in the application is adopted: certified copies of the adoption papers.

OR

a written statement that explains the circumstances of adoption

If you want to bring a child younger than 18 years of age with you to Australia, and that child’s other parent is not included in the application: documentary evidence that you have the legal right to bring that child to Australia, such as:

certified copies of official legal documents, such as a court-issued parental responsibility (custody), access or guardianship order

What this visa lets you do

enrol in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses

access certain social security payments

apply for Australian citizenship (after you have lived in Australia for four years)

propose family members for permanent residence

attend English language classes.

If you want to travel outside Australia, you will need to get a travel document. After five years, you will need a Resident Return Visa to re-enter Australia.

Your obligations

You and your family must:

come to Australia initially by the date specified on your visa

comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

What you need after your visa is granted but before you come to Australia

Document for travel to Australia

When your visa is granted, we will issue you with a document for travel to Australia. This document is valid one time only for travel and entry to Australia.

Departure health check

You need to have a departure health check from an approved immigration panel physician no more than 72 hours before your confirmed departure for Australia. This is to reduce your post-arrival health issues and make resettlement easier.

You must:

be healthy enough to travel to Australia

have vaccinations and treatment for parasites before resettlement

follow up any pre-existing health conditions after you arrive in Australia.

The departure health check includes:

a physical examination

a pregnancy test

tests for communicable diseases

administration of prescribed vaccinations, including measles, mumps and rubella

treatment of parasites and infestations.

Report changes in circumstances

Tell us if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth or death in your family.

Proposers

This information is for a person or organisation who wants to propose someone for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202).

If you want to propose family members under the Community Proposal Pilot, further information is available under the Community pilot tab.

There is no application charge for proposing someone for this visa, unless you are proposing someone under the Community pilot. The Australian Government does not fund travel costs for the holders of Global Special Humanitarian visas (subclass 202). If the application is approved, you or the visa holder must pay for their travel to Australia.

Proposer obligations

If your immediate family members are granted this visa, you should be prepared to:

meet them at the airport

provide their accommodation on arrival

help them to find permanent accommodation

familiarise them with services and service providers such as:

Centrelink

banks

public transport

translating and interpreting services

health care

permanent housing

education

employment services

childcare.

Proposer support

You can apply for proposer support to better help you to:

respond to the applicant’s needs

fulfil your obligations to directly support the applicant.

A Humanitarian Settlement Services provider in your state or territory will contact you if the visa application is approved. The service provider will give you initial information and tell you what support could be available.

Report changes in circumstances

Tell us if your circumstances change, for example:

you change your address

you can no longer provide support.

Community pilot

This information is for persons or communities who wish to propose individuals or families under the Community Proposal Pilot.

What is the Community Proposal Pilot?

The Community Proposal Pilot is a program of up to 500 visa places under Australia’s Humanitarian Program. It allows approved proposing organisations to propose someone in a humanitarian situation outside of Australia for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa.

These organisations would usually work with supporting community organisations to identify people to propose, support their visa application process, and if successful, help them to settle in Australia.

Who are the approved proposing organisations?

They are community organisations that we have invited to participate in the Community Proposer Pilot. They are:

If we grant the visa, the approved proposing organisation must also support the people who were proposed for up to 12 months after they arrive in Australia. This means the approved proposing organisation must:

meet them at an Australian airport

provide on-arrival clothing and footwear if required

provide accommodation

provide basic household goods and food

refer any families with children to a school

refer them to Medicare, Centrelink and a bank

register them for a general health assessment

refer them for English language training

help them find a job and permanent housing

connect them to other community and government programs

provide orientation to their local community and educate them about the rights and responsibilities of Australian permanent residents, including residential and tenancy rights and responsibilities.

What are supporting community organisations?

Supporting community organisations work with an approved proposing organisation to identify people who could apply for the visa and, if the visa is granted, help them settle in Australia.

The organisations work together under an agreement. A supporting community organisation must provide any or all of the support and services someone needs after they arrive in Australia, as agreed with the approved proposing organisation.

Who can be proposed for a refugee visa?

People being proposed under the Community Proposal Pilot must:

be proposed by an approved proposing organisation

be outside Australia when the visa application is lodged

meet the eligibility criteria for a refugee and humanitarian visa

meet Australia’s health and character requirements.

Please note that the Community Proposal Pilot is not a family reunion visa.

How do I propose someone for a refugee visa?

You cannot propose an application by yourself. To propose someone through the Community Proposal Pilot, approach an approved proposing organisation. You can contact the approved proposing organisation yourself, or you can ask a supporting community organisation to contact them for you.

To apply for a visa under the Community Proposal Pilot, you must:

identify someone you want to propose (they will be the visa applicant)

prepare their information, payments and documents to support the application

provide the application and all relevant information, payments and documents to the approved proposing organisation.

The approved proposing organisation will decide which applications they can support.

You do not have to propose someone through the Community Proposal Pilot. You can still propose your family members directly through the normal visa application process if you meet the requirements of the visa.

What happens after the application is lodged?

tell the people being proposed and the approved proposing organisation that we have received the application

ask the people being processed if we need more detail about information in the visa application

contact the people being proposed at key processing stages, to clarify details in the visa application and when a decision is made.

The people being proposed can provide more information about their visa application to us in writing at any time until a decision is made on the application. If they want to correct their information they have provided, they can useForm 1023 Notification of incorrect answer(s) (99 kB pdf).

How long will the decision process take?

The decision process could take many months.

What happens if more information is needed?

If we ask for more information, the people being proposed will have to respond by a set date. After that date, we can make a decision about the application using the information we have.

If another person gives us information that could result in the visa being refused, we will usually give the people being proposed the opportunity to comment on the information.

The people being proposed might also be interviewed. They will need to bring their passport or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.

What is a Deed of Agreement?

Under the Deed of Agreement, an Approved Proposing Organisation agrees to provide a range of services and support to people being proposed. The Deed is not an agreement for an Approved Proposing Organisation to provide services on behalf of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is not funding Approved Proposing Organisations to provide these services.

The Deed of Agreement is a legally binding document.

What are the costs?

Approved proposing organisations are responsible for ensuring the following costs are paid:

the visa application charge

medical checks for the people being proposed

airfares to Australia

accommodation

initial household costs such as goods, food, and utilities connection.

Approved proposing organisations can ask the supporting community organisation or the people proposing someone to pay for these costs. Approved proposing organisations can also ask for a contribution to cover administrative costs related to the application.

Visa holders must not be asked to pay back any of the costs associated with their proposal. We would consider that to be in breach of the Deed of Agreement and apply sanctions.

Where can I get more information?

For more information about the Community Proposal Pilot or to seek help getting in touch with an approved proposing organisation, send an email to the Community Proposal Pilot mailbox: community.proposal.pilot@immi.gov.au.

Estimate the cost of your visa

The Visa Pricing Estimator requires you to answer the questions as accurately as possible to provide you with an estimate for lodging a visa application. The estimator does not include the second instalment of the visa application charge which is payable for some visas. Please note this is an estimate for a visa application, if you have already lodged your application and you want to change/add applicants please refer to the Visa Pricing Table. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection Visa Pricing Estimator will give you an estimate of the charges you may need to pay to lodge a visa application. This is paid after you have made your application but before the visa can be granted. Read the department's full disclaimer. The Commonwealth of Australia does not guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of any material in the Visa Pricing Estimator.